If we could just hop on our bikes and sail through the RTR route without training, we’d be able to be constantly taken by all the new routes and amazing vistas. But for many of us, many hours have been spent riding the same routes over and over again, in order to build up to the repeated 75-mile plus rides we’re powering through now.

After two 75-mile days and an 80 mile day with constant head wind, many thought our 50 mile tour of Steamboat Springs was a recovery day. We were warned, though, that it was not.

Despite the warnings, though, many were like little kids when told not to touch the hot stove – we went in hopes of some pain relief. That didn’t happen. With a multitude of rollers (that means lots of ups & downs & little relief) & some 11% grade climbs, today was anything but recovery.

The silver lining in all of this was not having to pack up camp this morning & enjoying a leisurely coffee while waiting for the sun to melt the frost off of our bike seats.

Compared to tomorrow, though, today will seem like a recovery ride. Tomorrow’s 80 miler includes Rabbit Ears Pass & Colorado’s version of Death Valley – riding into Kremlin. Should I survive, I will do my best to tell you all about it.

Until then, O’Dell Brewing Company will help pass the time along with the live tunes here on the Steamboat Courthouse lawn.

Cyclists tackle yet another hill after coming down from Oak Creek on Wednesday.

So it seems some people were under the impression that Wednesday was a “rest day” on Ride The Rockies. I guess the definition of the phrase is totally relative: for example, some people made sure it was a rest day and simply didn’t ride, choosing to spend time in downtown Steamboat Springs and give their unmentionables a well-deserved rest.

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Another clear, sunny day, complete with hovering hot-air balloon, greeted cyclists as they made their way out of Steamboat Springs on Wednesday morning.

There were others who decided to bike the planned route for the day, a 50-mile loop that took us through the hills surrounding the town, crossing through Oak Creek and rolling farmlands before returning to Steamboat. Again, it looked relatively low-key on paper; up close and personal, it was anything but. And I think for folks looking forward to a recovery ride, it was a bit of a tough surprise.

Do you remember your first bike or first road bike? As one pedals you have time to think. Unless your in a head wind all day, then all you think about is wind.

My first road bike was a 1984 Schwinn LeTour. Thankful for my parent’s help to get such a bike as cycling expanded the world for me. Introducing me to new places and friends. There were days I would strap into the pedals (Yes, strap in. Clipping wasn’t around yet, or at least not around for me. ) and ride for miles through the city.

Colorado State Patrol near Crested Butte on June 11, 2011. A RTR rider suffered a heart attack on Saturday.

On yesterday’s ride from Buena Vista to Edwards, we witnessed many breathtaking vistas, and there was much to be grateful for, as we reflected on the rider who survived a heart attack on the climb up Cottonwood Pass on Day 1. I happened upon the RTR tour director, Chandler Smith, at the first aid station. He said that the rider we’d seen down and not breathing, and being worked on with a defibrillator and much intensity by riding medics, as now recovering in a hospital in Denver.

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Ride the Rockies Director Chandler Smith on Day 3.

Less than two hours later, an ambulance came screaming past us back up Tennessee Pass. An extreme tragedy happened on that descent, which resulted in a fatality. This news, of course, had many of us talking and reflecting today – and I might say, resulted in kinder fellow rider relations.

I wouldn’t have guessed from looking at the official route profile for the Edwards to Steamboat Springs ride that it would turn out to be my hardest day of the tour. Sure, the length of the route is 5 miles longer than the previous 2 days, but there were only two relatively small climbs shown on the profile, and a long downhill into Steamboat itself. A piece of cake, especially when compared to the Cottonwood Pass climb we did on day 1, right?

Not so much, as it turns out. The day started out fast and fun, with great weather, calm winds, and a nice mostly downhill ride out of Edwards. Once we hit Wolcott, the climbing began with a nice 1,000 ft climb and then a fast descent through Bond and then ending at McCoy where aid station 2 was located.

Cyclists make their way toward Wolcott during Tuesday's 80-mile ride from Edwards to Steamboat Springs. Ride The Rockies just finished its third day on the road.

Day Three: People are getting tired, I think. With today’s 80-mile ride from Edwards to Steamboat Springs, we’ve run up 230 miles of riding and about 11,000 feet of climbing, and the wear and tear is starting to show — in sloppy riding, short tempers (mine, mostly) and muttered expletives each time another hill comes into sight. On paper, Tuesday’s ride looks much easier than the first two days: the elevation gain looks smaller and it appears a pretty smooth route, other than a few bumps in the first half.

But paper lies. IT LIES. More than a few riders mentioned to me that they thought today’s ride was the hardest of the three so far.

In 2012, I asked a former colleague whether he was interested in running the Chicago Marathon. Two weeks later, he asked if I was interested in Ride the Rockies. I got a road bike, got on the tour, and have yet to regret it. This will be my third RTR.

Daniel Petty is the digital director of sports for The Denver Post. He competed in track and cross country all four years inc college, but that was six years ago. Now, he's doing Ride the Rockies for the first time.